OCTOBER 2019
Getty Villa, Pacific Palisades, CA
Buried by Vesuvius:The Villa dei Papiri
at Herculaneum
In 2006 I had the good fortune to visit the partially excavated city of Herculaneum (City of Hercules) located north of Pompeii. Unlike Pompeii, which was covered with an initial deposit of pumice then thick layers of ash that hardened over time, Herculaneum, closer in proximity to Mt. Vesuvius, was covered by multiple layers of pyroclastic flows (very hot ash and lava fragments). The first of these pyroclastic flows collapsed roofs and toppled statuary. Subsequent flows covering what was already buried created a hermetic seal of sorts allowing for the preservation of things like wood and leather and even cereals, fruits and loaves of bread.
Just outside the city of Herculaneum was a villa thought to have been owned by Julius Caesar's father-in-law, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus Pontifex (48 BC - AD 32). The villa was dubbed "Villa dei Papiri" because it contained the most extensive library of papyrus scrolls ever found. In 1754 Karl Jacob Weber, a Swiss military engineer in charge of the first attempted excavation, created a detailed diagram of this villa. Weber's diagram on display in this exhibit was used by J. Paul Getty to re-create the villa in Pacific Palisades. The excavation experienced a number of fits and starts over the years because of unsafe conditions and economic shortfalls. Thankfully, the excavation continues today.
J. Paul Getty's re-creation of the "Villa dei Papiri" contains replicas of many statues found at the excavation site. They are placed in what is believed to be their original positions based on Weber's diagram. The exhibit includes the original statues along with other artifacts discovered in Herculaneum. Many of these items are shown here for the first time outside of Italy. This exhibit brings the Getty Villa's re-creation into very clear perspective. One can imagine walking through the long colonnades of the villa outside Herculaneum. The Getty Villa is a beautiful place to visit whether or not you are interested in Greek and Roman antiquities. If you haven't visited this museum, please consider going while this exhibit is on display through October 28th.
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, 90272
https://www.getty.edu/visit/villa/
Parking: $20
Admission: free - but you must obtain tickets online before going
Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM (closed Tuesdays)
Where you can find me:
Shows:
October 12 - 11 AM - 6 PM
Pasadena 14th Annual ART Walk
Pasadena Society of Artists booth
Green St. and Madison Ave., Pasadena 91101
https://www.playhousedistrict.org/calendar-of-events/artwalk
November 1 thru 3
Creative Arts Group 2019 Art Festival
http://www.creativeartsgroup.org/calendar-of-events/art-festival/
November 23 - 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Art On Palm at Jones Coffee Roasters
693 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena 91105
http://www.artonpalm.com
November 23 - 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Pasadena Jewish Temple Center/Sisterhood Artisan Fair
1434 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena 91107
November 24 - 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden
Annual Art Fair with the Pasadena Society of Artists
270 Arlington Dr., Pasadena, 91103
www.japanesegardenpasadena.com
Dec 7-8 - 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Open Studio and Artist Marketplace
Kathleen Swaydan Studio
3061 Ridgeview Drive, Altadena 91001
kdswaydan@gmail.com
Retail:
Pasadena Museum of History gift shop
470 E. Walnut St., Pasadena 91103
https://www.pasadenahistory.org
Southern Roots
1387 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena 91104
https://www.southernrootsgifts.com
Copyright © 2019 Kathleen Swaydan, Artist, All rights reserved.
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